Environmental group sues U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for not protecting endangered species from pesticides
Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service faced a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, accusing the agency of neglecting its duty to safeguard endangered species from harmful pesticide chemicals. The organization is now seeking public support to address this critical issue.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, up to 97% of endangered species are at risk due to the presence of pesticides. Interestingly, this finding was already established by the Environmental Protection Agency six years ago.
Jonathan Evans, the environmental health legal director at the center, insists that the Fish and Wildlife Service promptly review the EPA’s findings and take immediate action to prevent species from becoming extinct or suffering harm from chemicals like Chlorpyrifos.
Evans emphasized the detrimental impact of pesticides on various endangered species in Florida and mentioned specific examples such as manatees, crested caracaras, whooping cranes, wood storks, Miami blue butterflies, Florida Bonneted bats, and frosted flatwoods salamanders. All of these species have been found to be adversely affected by pesticides, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency.
In order to combat this issue, Evans urges the public to refrain from using pesticides around their homes and gardens. He also warns about the potential developmental problems in children associated with pesticide exposure. Meanwhile, the Center for Biological Diversity is urging the Fish and Wildlife Service to complete its review of the potential harms caused by pesticides.
Evans firmly believes that everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment. He advises individuals to minimize the use of pesticides in their backyards, especially for ornamental purposes. Additionally, he suggests that whenever feasible, the public should prioritize buying organic products, as this would significantly reduce the amount of pesticides released into the environment.
Interestingly, according to a New York Times investigation, the Fish and Wildlife Service had prepared its initial analysis of chlorpyrifos and diazinon chemicals in 2017. However, the release of this analysis was blocked by a Trump-appointed nominee from the Department of the Interior.